Opinion Forum

Race and Slavery in America

February 28th, 2009

When I was writing “Eric Holder and Cowards” a couple of days ago, I was looking for sources when I came across a 1965 Department of Labor document titled “The Negro Family: The Case For National Action.” This document, also known as the “Moynihan Report,” was written by Daniel Patrick Moynihan when he was an Assistant [...]

Articles written by Tom Carter
Tags: slavery
Categories: History, Life, Politics | Comments (7) | Home

When 2+2 Doesn’t Equal 4

February 27th, 2009

Imagine, dear reader, that you live in a country whose entire economy has exactly $100 in circulation. Let us further suppose that you buy a widget for $1.00. That widget represents 1% of the entire value of the economy. Since we are in a suppositional mode here, we might as well continue on with it: [...]

Articles written by Brian Bagent
Tags: economy, money
Categories: Economics, Politics | Comments (3) | Home

Eric Holder and Cowards

February 26th, 2009

Attorney General Eric Holder recently described America as a “nation of cowards” because we avoid discussing unresolved racial issues: Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic melting pot, in things racial we have always been and continue to be, in too many ways, essentially a nation of cowards. … … we, [...]

Articles written by Tom Carter
Tags: Holder, Obama, race
Categories: Life, Politics | Comments (3) | Home

Obama’s Promises vs. Facts

February 25th, 2009

The Associated Press isn’t known for being critical of Barack Obama. So I was surprised to see an AP report today that debunks some of what President Obama stated and promised during his speech on February 24. Here’s a sample: OBAMA: “We have launched a housing plan that will help responsible families facing the threat of foreclosure [...]

Articles written by Tom Carter
Tags: economy, Obama
Categories: Economics, News, Politics | Comments (12) | Home

Temptation

February 24th, 2009

Put yourself in this situation: Your friend tells you there’s a beautiful and peaceful lake down the road. There is a locked gate and a “No Trespassing” sign around the gate. Your friend tells you that there’s a key under a rock by the gate. You get the key and unlock the gate and go in. [...]

Articles written by Amber
Tags: morality, temptation
Categories: Life | Comments (9) | Home

Ambassadors Share U.S.-Baltic Call For “Peace, Prosperity”

February 23rd, 2009

WEBSITE EXCLUSIVE, The Baltic Times: Ambassadors share U.S.-Baltic call for “peace, prosperity” Feb 16, 2009 Kim Kweder, special to The Baltic Times In new administration, the Baltics look to U.S. for stability Photo: K. Kweder WASHINGTON- The three U.S. Baltic ambassadors have vowed their commitment to advancing transatlantic relations. The brand-new Capitol Hill Visitor Center [...]

Articles written by Trevor Dane
Tags: Baltics
Categories: News, Politics | Comments (2) | Home

What Bill Ayers Thinks

February 23rd, 2009

Bill Ayers, erstwhile terrorist bomber and current professor at the University of Illinois in Chicago, will be interviewed on Fox News tonight by Alan Colmes, according to Drudge. Ayers, who holds the titles Distinguished Professor of Education and Senior University Scholar, spends his time these days working on education reform, curriculum, and instruction. Ironies abound. [...]

Articles written by Tom Carter
Tags: Afghanistan, Bill Ayers, terrorist
Categories: News, Politics | Comments (5) | Home

Sewing

February 21st, 2009

The last couple of days I’ve been learning how to sew from my grandma. It’s been so much fun! I learned how to sew up a hole and how to hem. We also went to Wal-Mart and got instructions on how to make a dress and a handbag. I got baby-blue fabric for the dress and [...]

Articles written by Amber
Tags: economy, sewing
Categories: Arts, Life | Comments (6) | Home

Suicide and Soldiers

February 18th, 2009

The Army says it’s at a loss to explain the latest twist in US war casualty figures — which show that more soldiers killed themselves than died in combat operations. “In January, 24 U.S. soldiers are believed to have committed suicide — seven confirmed cases and 17 more awaiting confirmation. By comparison, last January there [...]

Articles written by Jan Barry
Tags: soldiers, suicide
Categories: Military, News | Comments (3) | Home

They Saw It Coming

February 15th, 2009

Iain Levison, a working man who is also an excellent writer, has a thoughtful column in The Washington Post today. He writes about real people who have (or have lost) real jobs. His conclusion:

Articles written by Tom Carter
Tags: economy, jobs
Categories: Economics, Politics | Comments (7) | Home

Happy Valentine’s Day!

February 14th, 2009

This being Valentine’s Day, I didn’t much want to think or write about anything likely to create angst, like economic bailouts, freedom of speech, or terrorism. Then I remembered a classic Dave Barry column from 1999 about the travails of dating and the stress men suffer from having to make the first move. Here’s most of it:

Articles written by Tom Carter
Tags: valentine
Categories: Humor, Life | Comments (0) | Home

Friday the 13th

February 13th, 2009

Paraskavedekatriaphobia. That’s the word for people who are afraid of Friday the 13th. There’s an interesting discussion at Wikipedia. People who study this sort of thing say that something like 17 to 21 million people in the U.S. suffer (if that’s the right word) from paraskavedekatriaphobia. Apparently, the fear is so serious in some people that [...]

Articles written by Tom Carter
Tags: superstition
Categories: Life | Comments (4) | Home

Paglia: Speech and Stimulus

February 12th, 2009

As I noted previously, Camille Paglia has a column once each month at Salon.com. Her February column, published yesterday, is another gem. In addition to other topics, she wrote about the Fairness Doctrine: Speaking of talk radio (which I listen to constantly), I remain incredulous that any Democrat who professes liberal values would give a moment’s [...]

Articles written by Tom Carter
Tags: bailout, economy, fairness doctrine, Paglia
Categories: Economics, Media, Politics | Comments (6) | Home

Geithner Lays an Egg

February 11th, 2009

Timothy F. Geithner, Secretary of the Treasury, announced yesterday details of the new Financial Stability Plan (TARP II). According to Geithner, “Our plan will help restart the flow of credit, clean up and strengthen our banks, and provide critical aid for homeowners and for small businesses.” He stated that the causes of the crisis were: Governments and central [...]

Articles written by Tom Carter
Tags: bailout, economy
Categories: Economics, Politics | Comments (3) | Home

Economists and Politicians

February 10th, 2009

Well, we’re in an economic crisis. That much we know. So what do we do about it? I guess we should listen to the economists, right? Paul Krugman, liberal economist, thinks the humongous bill in Congress is the way to go. In his view, “The American economy is on the edge of catastrophe, and much of [...]

Articles written by Tom Carter
Tags: bailout, economy
Categories: Economics, Politics | Comments (11) | Home

Finding Joy Now

February 9th, 2009

So many people seem to have a negative outlook on life. Why? Maybe it’s the trials we go through, money, or our jobs. So, what can we do to avoid the negative outlook and help others look at things in a positive way? We can do the stuff that makes us happy–give a compliment to [...]

Articles written by Amber
Tags: happiness
Categories: Life | Comments (2) | Home

Lincoln and the Civil War

February 8th, 2009

February 12, 2009 is the two-hundredth anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln. This anniversary is generating books, TV specials, and heightened attention to the most revered of American presidents. Many books have been written about Lincoln, some better than others. Fred Kaplan offers a useful look at Lincoln books, good and bad, with recommendations of the best. In [...]

Articles written by Tom Carter
Tags: Civil War, Lincoln
Categories: History, Military, Politics | Comments (10) | Home

Teachers and Classes

February 6th, 2009

My favorite teacher is probably my Art teacher, Ms. Brown. I have Art second period. She’s really cool and a good teacher. Personally, I like teachers who are strict but not too strict. I like strict teachers because the students don’t get away with stuff when they’re around. Ms. Brown can be really nice but if [...]

Articles written by Amber
Tags: teachers
Categories: Arts, Life | Comments (4) | Home

The Fairness Doctrine

February 5th, 2009

Seems that the ill-named Fairness Doctrine may be rearing its ugly head again. It’s nothing more than a device to stifle free speech, originated in the 1920s when radio was the only broadcast medium and frequencies were scarce. Since then, politicians, mostly liberals, have sporadically used it as a political tool to shut down opposing points of view. [...]

Articles written by Tom Carter
Tags: press, speech
Categories: History, Media, Politics | Comments (6) | Home

Bailouts and Executive Pay

February 4th, 2009

There really isn’t much we can do about it. The economy is in a mess, and like sheep being urged toward the edge of a cliff, we’re being assured that the only answer is a bailout so massive as to be incomprehensible. Hundreds of billions of dollars, for sure. All that cash squeezed from the [...]

Articles written by Tom Carter
Tags: bailouts, compensation, economy
Categories: Humor, News, Politics | Comments (1) | Home

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